Car top drain trough clamp

ABSTRACT

A car top drain trough clamp structure in which a generally Lshaped clamp member engages under the car top trough and has an opening centrally positioned adjacent its upper end to receive a tongue on a second clamp member which extends therethrough. The second clamp member has a jaw extending downwardly from the tongue to clamp inside of the car top drain trough with the tongue pivoting in the opening of the L-shaped member. The tongue is connected to the tie down ropes, and as the tie down ropes are drawn tight, the clamp is tightened on the trough.

Unite States Patent 11 1 Barhorst 1 Sept. 30, 1975 CAR TOP DRAIN TROUGH CLAMP 1221 Filed: Jan. 22, 1974 1211 Appl. No.1 435,502

52 us. (:1. 224/421 B; 24/248 R; 224/421 R 1511 Int. Cl. ..B60R 9/04 1581 Field 61 Search 224/421 B, 42.1 G, 42.1 F, 224/421 E, 42.1 R; 24/133, 248 R. 248 A,

248 c; 248/226 D, 226 c [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.958.969 5 1934 L005 24/133 3525461 8/1970 Bronson 224 421 F FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.089.543 3/1955 France 224 421 B 347,084 7/1960 Switzerland 224/421 G Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Eraminer.ler0ld M. Forsberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmVictor J. Evans & Co.

[ 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A car top drain trough clamp structure in which a gencrally L-shaped clamp member engages under the car top trough and has an opening centrally positioned adjacent its upper end to receive a tongue on a second clamp member which extends therethrough. The second clamp member has a jaw extending downwardly from the tongue to clamp inside of the car top drain trough with the tongue pivoting in the opening of the L-shaped member. The tongue is connected to the tie down ropes, and as the tie down ropes are drawn tight, the clamp is tightened on the trough.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patsnt Sept. 30,1975

CAR TOP DRAIN TROUGH CLAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car top drain trough clamp for securing tie down straps to the top of an automobile.

2. Summary of the Invention The car top drain trough clamp of the present invention includes a generally L-shaped member having an inwardly offset upper end and an opening positioned centrally of the upper end. A tongue of a second jaw member extends through the opening and pivots therein so that the jaw member clamps the inner face of the drain trough with the L-shaped member engaged under the drain trough. The upper end of the tongue is connected to tie down straps so that as tension is brought to bear on the tie down straps, the drain trough clamp is clamped tightly to the drain trough.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive clamp structure which applies increased clamping pressure as the tie down straps are tightened.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification, when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end elevation of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drain trough clamp in assembled position; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the clamp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a car top drain trough clamp constructed in accordance with the invention.

The drain trough clamp 10 includes a generally L- curve thereof is reverse to the curve of the jaw member 15 so that together, they have an S form. The tongue 16 is adapted to pivot in the opening 14 so that the jaw 15 is drawn toward the L-shaped member 11 to clamp the generally U-shaped drain trough 17 therebetween. A ring 18 extends through an opening 19 in the upper end of the tongue 16 and a tie down rope or strap 20 is secured to the ring 18.

In the use and operation of the invention, the L- shaped member 11 is positioned in engagement with the drain trough 17 with the flange 12 engaged therebeneath. The jaw member 15 is positioned within the drain trough 17 with the tongue 16 extending upwardly through the opening 14. The tie down rope 20 is then tightened against a load on top of the motor vehicle and in opposition to a similar clamp 10 on the opposite side of the car. The tightening of the rope 20 causes the clamp 10 to tightly engage the trough 17 to resist disengagement from the trough 17.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A tie down car top drain trough clamp comprising a generally L-shaped upright jaw member including a horizontal flange extending perpendicularly from the lower edge of said member and an inwardly offset upper end portion overlying said flange, a generally rectangular opening formed in said member and terminating in said portion, a second jaw member including a tongue extending integrally upwardly from said second jaw member and freely, slidably extending through the opening in said L-shaped jaw member, with the lower end of said second jaw member positioned in opposition to the lower end of said L-shaped jaw member, said second jaw member and said tongue together being generally S-shaped in side elevation, said tongue adapted to pivot in said opening to clamp said second jaw member and said L-shaped jaw member into tight engagement with a car top drain trough positioned therebetween, and an aperture in the upper end of said tongue for securing a tie down rope to said tongue member whereby upon tension on said tie down rope in the same direction that the horizontal flange extends from the lower edge of said L-shaped member, the jaw members will tightly clamp the car top drain trough therebetween. 

1. A tie down car top drain trough clamp comprising a generally L-shaped upright jaw member including a horizontal flange extending perpendicularly from the lower edge of said member and an inwardly offset upper end portion overlying said flange, a generally rectangular opening formed in said member and terminating in said portion, a second jaw member including a tongue extending integrally upwardly from said second jaw member and freely, slidably extending through the opening in said Lshaped jaw member, with the lower end of said second jaw member positioned in opposition to the lower end of said L-shaped jaw member, said second jaw member and said tongue together being generally S-shaped in side elevation, said tongue adapted to pivot in said opening to clamp said second jaw member and said Lshaped jaw member into tight engagement with a car top drain trough positioned therebetween, and an aperture in the upper end of said tongue for securing a tie down rope to said tongue member whereby upon tension on said tie down rope in the same direction that the horizontal flange extends from the lower edge of said Lshaped member, the jaw members will tightly clamp the car top drain trough therebetween. 